Facilities

There are four football pitches in the park, and although these are booked every Sunday by two local football leagues, the pitches are available on Saturdays on a casual basis, between September and April. There is a changing/shower block which is included in the cost. Please give the Parks Department a call for more information or to book a pitch.

In summer, a cricket pitch is marked out, and is used regularly by local clubs. Hard surface tennis courts are available all year round, and there are a number of grass courts throughout the summer: all tennis courts are free of charge. One of the hard courts also has basketball nets. Aside from the official marked-out pitches, there is plenty of open space for a kick-about or a game of rounders.

Watford Bowls Club is based in Cassiobury Park, and also Watford (Cassiobury) Croquet Club, and both offer facilities for the public to play. If you are keen on playing croquet, please contact the croquet club through their website. For information on the bowls club, please contact Allan Hall, email gordonkp@gmail.com

A local tennis club, the Grosvenor Lawn Tennis Club, uses three of the grass courts throughout the summer. If you would like more information on the club, please visit their website, or contact the Secretary, Ann Mc Keever on 01923 351627 or email ann.mckeever@ntlworld.com

There is plenty to do with children in Cassiobury Park and most of it will cost you absolutely nothing! As well as acres of space for a kick-about or kite-flying there are facilities provided by the local council.

Paddling Pools Playground Following a £200,000 rebuild in time for the 2009 school summer holidays this is now the best play area in the town. It is suitable for children up to the age of 14 and contains swings, numerous climbing frames and slides, a granite stone maze and even a trampoline and zip wire!

Cha Playground. Smaller than the Paddling Pool Playground this play area is located directly alongside the Cha Cafe (@TheChaCafe) caters for younger children and toddlers up to the age of 6. An enclosed grassy area contains picnic tables with toilet facilities and refreshments are available in the cafe.

Paddling Pools. Three pools of varying size and depth are open daily between 10am and 7pm from Good Friday to mid September. Entry is free and toilets and refreshments are available in the adjacent buildings. The paddling pools are located alongside a recently rebuilt playground and are near to the miniature railway.

Miniature Railway The 10.25 inch gauge miniature railway has over half a kilometre of tracks and a variety of steam and diesel locomotives. Services run on weekends, bank holidays and in school holidays throughout the year. For history and locomotive information see Watford Minirail

Bouncy Castle. Weather permitting, the bouncy castle operator is on site at weekends and during the school holidays, from the start of April until the end of September, 11am to 6pm. However, if the park is empty, he may close earlier, and if the park is busy on a summer evening, he may stay open to 7pm. The bouncy castle operator also has castles for hire. Suitable for children 14 and under.

Paddling and Fishing by the Rustic Bridge. The River Gade, which flows through the park, is shallow enough to paddle in around the Rustic Bridge crossing which leads to the Grand Union Canal. The bridge itself is adorned with carvings of flora and fauna and if you take along a net you can try to catch a fish in the slow-flowing waters. This area is also popular with dog-walkers.

There are new climbing ‘Bloqz’ in the playground area for children up to 14 years olds . Let us know what you think of them.

Eating and drinking

The old tea pavilion building, which had ceased operation, fell victim to a fire on 17 January 1999 but has now been completely refurbished and re-opened as a fully-functional tea pavilion again. The Cha Cafe (@TheChaCafe) serves a range of hot and cold food and refreshments, and has fast become a very popular destination within the park.

Refreshments can also be purchased from the kiosk adjacent to the paddling pools, and the private contractor also operates an ice-cream van in the park.